Continental Iron Works

Continental Iron Works

Company type	Private
Industry	Engineering, Shipbuilding, Manufacturing
Founded	1861 in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York, United States
Founder	Thomas F. Rowland
Defunct	1928
Fate	Ceased operations and liquidated after retirement of Rowland’s son
Headquarters	Greenpoint, Brooklyn , United States
Area served	United States (Eastern US)
Key people	Thomas F. Rowland
Products	Monitor-class warships, ironclad warships, gas holders, gas mains, gas plants, steel ferryboats, welded boiler furnaces, torpedo casings, depth charge casings, welded water pipes
Number of employees	Approximately 1,000 (peak during Civil War)

The Continental Iron Works was an American engineering and shipbuilding firm established in 1861 in Greenpoint, Brooklyn by Thomas F. Rowland. It became well-known for producing several monitor-class warships for the United States Navy during the American Civil War, most notably the original Monitor. This vessel played a crucial role in countering the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia during the 1862 Battle of Hampton Roads, which was the first encounter between ironclad warships and significantly influenced U.S. naval tactics during and following the war.

Following a post-war decline in New York’s shipbuilding industry, Continental Iron Works expanded its operations into manufacturing equipment for the growing gas lighting market, including gas holders, mains, and entire gas plants. In 1888, the company constructed what was then the largest gas holder in the United States. Additionally, it was at the forefront of developing steel-hulled ferryboats during the 1880s.

Throughout the 1870s, Continental Iron Works emerged as a pioneer in welding techniques, producing advanced welded items such as corrugated boiler furnaces for naval ships—including those used on the battleship —gas-powered buoys, steel digesters utilized in wood pulping processes, and welded casings for torpedoes. The firm’s welding innovations were showcased at prominent events like the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition and the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair.

During World War I, Continental Iron Works contributed to wartime production by manufacturing munitions like depth charge casings. After the conflict, it concentrated on producing gas mains and large welded water pipes with substantial diameters. The company ceased operations in 1928 when Rowland’s son retired and its assets were subsequently liquidated.

This overview highlights Continental Iron Works’ strategic evolution through diversification, technological advancements, and responsiveness to market needs across shipbuilding and industrial manufacturing sectors.

Establishment

In 1851, Samuel Sneden, a New York shipbuilder, relocated his shipyard from Manhattan to Greenpoint, Brooklyn, becoming one of the early movers in this area. Situated at West and Calyer Streets near Bushwick Inlet, Sneden’s yard produced numerous wooden steamboats and other vessels throughout the 1850s, collaborating at times with emerging shipbuilder E. S. Whitlock.

In 1859, James L. Day of the New Orleans & Mobile Mail Line commissioned Sneden to construct an iron-hulled steamer. Since Sneden lacked ironworking expertise, he temporarily joined forces with engineer Thomas F. Rowland to fulfill this order under Samuel Sneden & Co. The company acquired essential ironworking machinery and completed three iron-hulled steamers between 1859 and 1861, including Day’s vessel.

To capitalize on its newly acquired ironworking capabilities, Sneden & Co. submitted a bid of $49,000 for installing a quarter-mile iron pipeline across the Harlem River at Highbridge to channel water from the Croton Aqueduct to a reservoir in Manhattan—offering nearly $20,000 less than rival bids. After delays in contract execution, Sneden attempted to rescind the agreement but was unsuccessful and soon declared bankruptcy. Control of the shipyard then passed to Rowland.

Rowland rebranded the facility as Continental Iron Works and successfully completed the water infrastructure contract, marking a significant shift toward iron construction and infrastructure-focused projects within the company’s business direction.

American Civil War

Puritan on the ways at the Continental Iron Works

The Continental Iron Works was founded in early 1861, coinciding with the onset of the American Civil War. In May of that year, Rowland submitted designs to the Navy Department for an ironclad warship powered by a screw propeller and equipped with rotating gun turrets. Although these plans were initially declined, he obtained contracts to produce gun carriages and to outfit merchant vessels acquired by the Navy. Additionally, he constructed mortar beds used by Commander David Dixon Porter's fleet during the Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip.

In September, engineer John Ericsson introduced a concept for an ironclad featuring a low freeboard and a revolving turret. On October 4, he entered into an agreement with the Navy to build this ship, taking on full financial responsibility and pledging to deliver it within 100 days.

Ericsson engaged several New York firms for different components of the project: Cornelius H. Delamater's Delamater Works supplied the engines, Novelty Iron Works provided the turrets, and Continental Iron Works was chosen for hull construction due to its expertise in iron shipbuilding. The contract was finalized between Rowland and Ericsson on October 25.

File:Continental Iron Works double planer.jpg

A double planer invented by Rowland for fast planing of armor plate

The ironclad Monitor was launched from Continental Iron Works in 101 days; although it missed the deadline by a single day, the Navy waived any penalties. The vessel was promptly sent to Hampton Roads, Virginia, where it engaged and neutralized the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia in the landmark Battle of Hampton Roads—the first encounter between ironclad ships. This victory generated increased demand for monitors, resulting in numerous contracts.

During the war, Ericsson subcontracted Continental to construct six additional monitors—four equipped with single turrets and two larger models featuring double turrets, namely Miantonomoh and Puritan. All were completed except for Puritan, which experienced delays due to design modifications and armament complications, and Cohoes, which suffered from design defects imposed by the Navy. Continental also manufactured turrets for three other monitors and built the iron-hulled gunboat Shenandoah.

Thomas Rowland developed several innovative machine tools aimed at accelerating production while significantly reducing labor requirements. He introduced techniques such as preheating armor plates before bending them. By the conclusion of the war, Continental Iron Works had expanded over eight acres densely filled with workshops and materials, employing approximately 1,000 workers at its peak.

Postwar diversification

Following the Civil War's conclusion in 1865, the American shipbuilding sector experienced a sharp downturn, partly due to an oversupply of naval vessels entering the market alongside economic adjustments after the conflict. The New York area was particularly impacted, with many prominent shipbuilding and marine engineering companies ceasing operations. Although shipbuilding contracts for Continental Iron Works diminished drastically, the firm maintained financial stability and began broadening its business scope.

A major strategic pivot involved entering the expanding gasworks industry driven by increasing demand for gas lighting. Over subsequent decades, Continental supplied gas equipment across the Eastern United States, including gas mains, large telescopic gas holders, and complete gas plant installations. For instance, it constructed three gas plants for Consolidated Gas Company in New York City and provided a gas holder recognized by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers as a notable engineering accomplishment.

In addition to gasworks-related products, during the 1870s Continental manufactured diverse metal goods such as massive cauldrons and vats, machine tools, lifesaving club lifecars, and torpedo casings for naval use. In 1869, it secured a contract to fabricate a bowstring girder swing bridge over Bushwick Inlet—a design created by company founder Rowland. Completed in 1872, this bridge supported rolling loads up to 60 tons or distributed loads totaling 300 tons.

Shipbuilding in the Post-Civil War Era

File:USS Monadnock (BM-3) under construction.jpg

Hull of USS Monadnock (BM-3) after reassembly in California at the Burgess yard, c. 1880

Following the Civil War, the firm obtained only a few shipbuilding orders but managed to produce some noteworthy vessels. In 1871, it constructed the composite steam yacht Day Dream for William Henry Aspinwall, founder of Pacific Mail, with design work by company engineer Lucius A. Smith—one of the earliest steam yachts built in America.

In 1874, Continental Works opted not to accept a Navy contract for a new monitor due to unfavorable terms. Shortly thereafter, engineer Phineas Burgess secured the commission for an Amphitrite-class monitor and subcontracted Continental to fabricate its hull at Greenpoint. The hull was dismantled and transported overland to Vallejo, California, where Burgess reassembled it. Construction delays caused by government hold-ups resulted in substantial financial setbacks for Burgess; the vessel was ultimately completed only in 1896 at Mare Island Navy Yard.

Between 1884 and 1885, Continental constructed steel-hulled ferryboats Atlantic and Brooklyn for New York’s Union Ferry Company, representing the first steel ferries built in the United States.

Innovators in Welding Technology

In 1876, Continental Iron Works became a pioneer in welding by applying plate-welding techniques to fabricate boiler furnaces for the monitor USS Monadnock. Early uses included producing gas reservoirs designed to hold pressurized gas for self-propelled torpedoes—a military technology gaining prominence in Europe. The company developed advanced scarf- and gas-welding processes, making welded components a core aspect of its operations. This expertise was prominently displayed at both the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition and the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair.

By the 1890s, Continental Iron Works stood as the only U.S. manufacturer of welded corrugated boiler furnaces utilized in both marine and stationary boilers. The corrugation design permitted thinner furnace walls without sacrificing strength, enhancing heat transfer efficiency. These furnaces were widely installed on commercial vessels as well as U.S. Navy warships such as the battleship . Additionally, Continental produced the first Thornycroft boilers in America for the Navy’s inaugural torpedo boat, , alongside its proprietary boiler models.

Other significant welded products included gas-lit navigational buoys and steel digesters used in wood pulp processing for paper manufacturing. During the Spanish–American War of 1898, Continental Iron Works manufactured thousands of torpedo casings for naval use, underscoring its importance in defense production.

Activities During and After World War I

Throughout World War I, Continental Iron Works manufactured welded casings for depth charges along with other munitions. After the war, its focus shifted toward producing gas mains and large-diameter welded water pipes, which offered benefits over riveted alternatives such as smoother internal surfaces that reduced water resistance and minimized leakage.

Thomas F. Rowland, who had served as president since 1861 and founded the company, passed away in 1907; vice-president Warren E. Hill succeeded him but died a year later in 1908. Subsequently, Rowland's son, Thomas F. Rowland Jr., assumed leadership until retiring in 1928 when the company was dissolved. The American Welding Company purchased the firm's machinery used for manufacturing corrugated boiler furnaces. The original facility remained mostly unused for many years before being repurposed by a lumber supplier and fuel business. By 2020, the site was once again vacant.

Samuel Sneden & Co.

Presented below is a list of iron-hulled vessels constructed by Samuel Sneden & Co. between 1859 and 1861, a period during which Thomas F. Rowland held partnership status. These ships demonstrate the proficiency that would later underpin the shipbuilding expertise of Continental Iron Works.

Iron-hulled commercial vessels produced by Samuel Sneden & Co. (with Thomas F. Rowland as partner), 1859–1861

Name	Type	Year	Tonnage	Engine	Client	Operational Area	Remarks
Alabama	Steamer	1859	510	Morgan	New Orleans & Mobile Mail Line	Lake Pontchartrain	Noted as the first iron steamer constructed in Greenpoint; decommissioned in 1892.
Flushing	Steamboat	1860	333	Morgan	Flushing, College Point & New York Steam Ferry Co.	East River	Transferred overseas in 1863.
Primero	Steamer	1861	331	—	Pesant Brothers & Co.	Cuba	Built for cattle transport between Mexico and Cuba; lost off Cape Hatteras in 1862 due to engine failure.

Warships for the United States Navy

During the Civil War, Continental Iron Works was responsible for building eight naval vessels—comprising seven monitors and a single gunboat. Two of the monitors were unfinished at the conflict's conclusion and never entered active service.

United States Navy warships constructed by Continental Iron Works, 1861–1865

Vessel Name(s)	Vessel Type	Class	Displacement (tons)	Engine Manufacturer	Launch Date	Commission Date	Additional Information
USS Monitor	Monitor	Unique Design	987	Delamater Iron Works	25 Oct 1861	25 Feb 1862	The inaugural monitor warship; famously engaged and neutralized the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia at the Battle of Hampton Roads (1862), initiating widespread interest in monitor-type vessels. Sunk during a storm near Cape Hatteras later that year.
USS Passaic (1862)	Monitor	Passaic Class	1335	Delamater Iron Works	30 Aug 1862	25 Nov 1862	Assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron in 1863; decommissioned in 1865; recommissioned in 1876; served as receiving ship from 1878 until 1896; sold in 1899.
USS Montauk (1862)	Monitor	Passaic Class	1335	Delamater Iron Works	09 Oct 1862	17 Dec 1862	Operated with the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron during 1863; decommissioned in 1865 and sold in 1904.
USS Catskill (1862)	Monitor	Passaic Class	1335	Delamater Iron Works	16 Dec 1862	24 Feb 1863	Served within the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron from 1863 to 1865; reactivated for harbor defense during the Spanish–American War (1898); disposed of in 1904.
USS Onondaga (1863)	Monitor	Unique Design	2592	Morgan Iron Works	29 Jul 1863	24 Mar 1864	The sole double-turret monitor built by Continental Iron Works; operated with James River flotilla (1864–65); sold to France in 1867 and dismantled by 1904.
USS Muscoota	Gunboat	Mohongo Class	1370	Morgan Iron Works	— Completed in 1864	05 Jan 1865	An iron-hulled, double-ended gunboat finished near the war’s end; later converted to merchant vessel named Tennessee (1869); destroyed by fire in 1870.
USS Puritan (1864)	Monitor	Unique Design	4912	Allaire Iron Works	02 Jul 1864	Never Commissioned	The largest monitor designed by Ericsson; redesigns delayed completion, preventing commissioning; scrapped in 1874.
USS Cohoes	Monitor	Casco Class	1175	Hews Engine Company	31 May 1865	Never Commissioned	Design flaws resulted in failure to commission; dismantled for scrap in 1874.

Additional Significant United States Navy Warship Contracts

In addition to constructing warships for the United States Navy, Continental Iron Works was responsible for manufacturing gun turrets on three other monitors during the Civil War era and fabricated the hull of an additional monitor in the 1870s, which was subsequently finished by different shipyards.

Other important U.S. naval contracts awarded to Continental Iron Works, 1862–1874

Vessel Name(s)	Vessel Type	Class	Displacement	Work by Continental contract	Additional Builder(s)	Propulsion	Launch Date	Commission Date	Remarks
USS Patapsco	Monitor	Passaic	1335 tons	Gun turret fabrication	Harlan & Hollingsworth	(Harlan & Hollingsworth)	27 Sep 1862	02 Jan 1863	Assigned to North Atlantic Blockading Squadron; sunk by mine in Charleston Harbor, 1865 with 62 fatalities.
'Conestoga', USS Sangamon, USS Jason	Monitor	Passaic class	1335 tons	Gun turret fabrication	Reaney, Son & Archbold	Morris Towne engine	27 Oct 1862	09 Feb 1863	Operated across various squadrons; decommissioned in 1865; recommissioned during the Spanish–American War; sold in 1904.
USS Lehigh	Monitor	Passaic class	1335 tons	Gun turret fabrication	Reaney, Son & Archbold	Morris Towne engine	17 Jan 1863	15 Apr 1863	Participated in multiple expeditions and squadrons; served as a practice vessel; recommissioned for Spanish–American War; sold in 1904.
USS Monadnock (BM-3)	Monitor	Amphitrite	3990 tons	Hull construction	Phineas Burgess at Mare Island Navy Yard	Mare Island Navy Yard	19 Sep 1883	12 Feb 1896	Hull assembled by Continental in Greenpoint, NY (1875), then transported in sections to California for final assembly; construction halted by Congress (1877–1883); launched in 1883; completed at Mare Island; served during Spanish–American War and in Far East operations; sold in 1923.

Shipbuilding Activities Following the Civil War

After the Civil War, Continental Iron Works shifted focus to producing a modest number of vessels, largely geared toward commercial use.

Governmental, commercial, and private vessels constructed by Continental Iron Works, 1866–1889

Vessel Name(s)	Vessel Type	Year	Tonnage	Engine Manufacturer	Client/Orderer	Intended Service	Additional Information
Nuevo Cubano	Steamship	1865	800 tons	Morgan engine	D. J. Costa y Busquet	Cuba route	Constructed for transport between Isle of Pines and Batabanó; decommissioned circa 1903; destroyed by hurricane in 1906.
—	Picket boat	1871	—	—	"Col. Mallory"	U.S. coastal patrols	Experimental design of a 36-foot oscillating-engine picket boat intended as a naval replacement craft.
Day Dream	Steam yacht	1871	71 tons	Delamater engine	W. H. Aspinwall	New York waters	Early American steam yacht created by designer Lucius A. Smith.
'Fulton'	'Ferry'	'1871'	'647 tons'	'Quintard engine'	'Union Ferry Co.'	'East River service'	'Woodwork produced by Lawrence & Foulks; no longer documented after 1917.'
'Farragut'	'Ferry'	'1871'	'647 tons'	'Quintard engine'	'Union Ferry Co.'	'East River service'	'Woodwork crafted by Lawrence & Foulks; records cease around 1914.'
'Pampero'	'Screw launch'	'1876'	'—'	'—'	'Harrison B. Moore'	'Philadelphia waters'	'56-foot wooden launch designed by Lucius A. Smith; intended for the yacht race at the Centennial Exposition but completed late; later recognized as fastest in its category.'
'Atlantic'	'Ferry'	'1885'	'930 tons'	'Quintard engine'	'Union Ferry Co.'	'East River service'	'First steel-hulled ferry constructed in the United States; sold to City of New York in 1922 and abandoned in 1938.'
'Brooklyn' / 'Irvington'28	'Ferry'	'1884'	'930 tons'	'Quintard engine'	'Union Ferry Co.'	'East River service'	'Second American steel-hulled ferry built; transferred to NYC ownership in 1922, operated on upper Hudson River before abandonment in 1935.'
'David Bushnell' / 'Mastodon'06	'Barge'	'1884'	'85 tons'	'—'	'US Army Engineer Corps'	'Long Island area'	"Composite self-propelled barge developed by T.F. Rowland for laying torpedoes and mines near Fort Willetts; later converted into merchant vessel Mastodon (1906)."
'General'	'Steamboat'	'1889'	'332 tons'	'Fletcher engine'	'Hudson River Steamboat Co.'	'Hudson River route'	"Constructed for Catskill-Albany service; dismantled in 1934."